Cultural Anamnesis. Retellings. Meet the fey, the wise, the mercurial, the historical and imagined. Tales of spirit and worldview. Truths through myth and mystery, reality and allusion. Humana: how and why do its transmitted tales change. A Gristmill site. By Dint. Where do the old signs lead. Follow the dark rope. Hush. It is still there.

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Worlds of tales and commerce blend, with Frank Heckman of the Netherlands. He sees that even ordinary people (like the Jacks of old) can learn to be champions at something. Follow his approach, as he has developed it in his work as a consultant to such people: "The Hero's Journey", see http://www.broadenthehorizon.eu/uploads/049_FRANK%20HECKMAN_EN.pdf. How to succeed. How to want to succeed. How to translate the wisdom of the spirit, culled over centuries, into day by day. Mythology plays a strong part, as he works with people seeking excellence in sport, business, arts. Mythology promotes excellence.
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What is the role of the cultural tale in setting a framework for business. Can we tap our childhoods, if we were lucky enough to have stories and books abounding. And comfy chairs, and darkening afternoons in the cushions, a single lamp over a shoulder, shadows moving.

Try his general framework on any tale, or life in process:

1. THE GOAL. Hear and heed the call to adventure. Discover your own dream. Determine your own course. Free yourself from social control. Choose a destination.
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2. THE BALANCE. Seek "flow" -- the feeling of total focus in circumstances where you can see yourself succeeding -- you can perform optimally as you go. This takes a balance, between the challenge of the task, and the ability of the seeker. Too great a challenge leads to fear, tension. Too little challenge leads to boredom.
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3. THE COMPANIONS. Create your own world and find companions for your travels. Fellowship matters. Find new qualities in yourself. Your companions will influence how you proceed. Choose well.
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4. THE OVERCOMING. Expect the Dragon. Work through the inevitable disappointments. Overcome resistance, fear. Return to another great tale, Jason and the Golden Fleece. A Dragon clause can be the key to a successful agreement, see http://martinlutherstove.blogspot.com/2009/12/golden-mean-fleece-dragon-and-law-of.html#!/2009/12/golden-mean-fleece-dragon-and-law-of.html
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5. THE IMPLEMENTING. Implement, "stand in your own truth," carry over, follow through, execute

6. THE SIGH; AND RETURN. Evaluate, reap rewards in knowledge, experiences, return and apply. What do you bring back with you, your "grail". Can you sustain it?

Mr. Heckman's co-author is Steven de Bie, whose interests in sustainability arrive from a different direction, see his work in biodiversity at http://www.reg.wur.nl/UK/Staff/Bie/ .

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Body language. What is meant by thumbs up or thumb down. In the East and some cultures, it is an obscenity. Gestures are not universal in meaning. See http://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/book_of_body_language/chap5.html.
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In the West, we have been schooled to think of thumbs up or thumbs down as Roman citizens voting life or death to those battling in Colisseums and which gladiators will live for another day, but is that so? There appear to be several basic meanings to the thumbs up, including its meaning

nothing at all, or something else: 'Okay'. Okay? What does that mean? Okay to what?

the number "one"; for some, where a single index finger up is the obscenity, so is never used for 1. Two would be thumb and forefinger, but never 1 as forefinger alone

In that list, where is Rome, and the Colisseum? The Gladiators looking up to see their fate? It didn't happen. It just didn't happen. Read the site. The thumb moved in some way, to indicate the fate, but there is no evidence of which way, how, when, etc.

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II. With the myth of digits de-mythed, how to update the imagery? Use color. Go green. Or red.

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Here we propose a similar idea in vegetative form, not digital: the ultimate T-shirt, mug, tchotchke, calendar, and other accessory decoration and other use imagery. Our very own, garden-grown Ultimate Tomatic Image to indicate approval or disapproval; or otheer use.
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Hitching a ride.

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These also, of course, can illustrate other emotions, sorts and conditions. Greeting card: So sorry, please forgive. Of course! Of course!
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III. Imagery conveys ideas more strongly than words

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Puerile nonsense aside, simple photographs can associate images with concepts thanks to advertising, political repetition without debate, simply putting images on posters and passing them out to people on buses. Apply grotesqueries to elected persons, for example, to inspire derision. Emotional connection cemented, without providing voters with full transparent facts for their own analysis.
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Can that be countered by education, analysis tools for regular people, to defuse the professional persuaders. See Unbrink the Nation.
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Or do we need Counter-Tomatoes?
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Watch how versions of old tales change to meet cultural agendas. Ask, in looking at representations of Mother Goose, by what authority do American publishers and Disney turn every wise single woman into a witch, by costume manipulation? The process is as demeaning to the character as Disney and others turning Uncle Remus into a patsy. Look for Uncle Remus, for real, in old texts; as you now look for Mother Goose for real, in her older texts and illustrations.

My 1930 Mother Goose, with unsurpassed illustrations by Berta and Elmer Hader, starts off with a fine lady with benign face peering back at me, while she is in flight, not in black, no pointy hat, just a brimmed and substantial, tall Puritan-type hat, with buckle and flat top at the narrower end up top. Now go to Images on your browser. See the witches so wickedly substituted for a wise woman. Tall pointy hats mean witch. And we worry about other people's cultural systems brainwashing them? How about us. Here is the Berta and Elmer Hader Mother Goose, at Hader, A Picture Book of Mother Goose, pagebooks. My cover was in deep and lighter blue, see http://www.hader.pagebooks.net/hader_berta_and_elmer_hader%27s_picture_book_of_mother_goose.jpg

Berta and Elmer Hader's Picture Book of Mother Goose, 1930, Coward-McCann NY. With that date, is copyright finished? I see none of its brilliant illustrations anywhere online. Teal, burgundy, gold, and some silhouette, black and white, the variety is dazzling. May I copy them here? Would someone please put this back on the market? Do away with the modern fakery.

Berta and Elmer Hader - beloved illustrations, medieval towns and lanes, houses, wee children, animals. My copy, dated 1930 (predates me, of course), has long lost its front and back cover, but the inside is intact and beautiful. Firmly located in the heart.

Mother Goose and Imagination - recourse of the helpless, the small, and also for the excitement-seeker. Under her name came tales, and rhymes and songs and little games. Nursery rhymes

Nursery rhymes may well reflect political and other events of the time, or satire, where direct commentary on individuals and issues would be punished. Some helped feed and seed revolutions. See http://www.rhymes.org.uk/. At the least, nursery rhymes gave the adults, who knew, some likely enjoyment, even if the children saw surface meaning.

Revive the Rhymes for today. Here, we use italics for emphasis, but otherwise quote. ...............................................

II. New: Some character names in interpretation, references. Contemporary context.

These will change, depending on the issue. Mother Goose is eternal. Illustrations come and go.

Cross pollination. Some characters from other folk and literary sources may find themselves here. There are some morphs from Alice in Wonderland and The Night Before. Find, perhaps, in this Goose more Adventures of the Hatter, MitchMouse and Eric the Hare who does not Care; or Unhappy Harry the White Rabbit, and Neat Nancy, and Other People and Issues. .............................................................

III. The Rhymes

A. Rhymes and Songs

1. Old Mother Goose

"Old Mother Goose when she wanted to wander, would ride through the air on a very fine gander."

She has a big smile on her face; and a Puritan-type hat with buckle, that in the US we see on the Pilgrim men, not the mobcap of the woman. She rides side-saddle, and the gander has the bit in his mouth. Big moon behind. Equal rights; the rightful place of woman. Note to Obama. Equal Rights Amendment; to be submitted with any Balanced Budget Amendment: .......................................................

2. Willy Boy, Willy Boy

"Willy boy, Willy boy, where are you going? I will go with you, if I may. I'm going to the meadow, to see them a-mowing, I'm going to help them make the hay."

Bill Clinton. Clear reference to altruism and Bill Clinton, The role model for Eric the March Hare who does not care, and the Teas who live in tightwad bags. ........................................................

3. Harvest Home, Harvest Home

"Harvest Home, harvest home, Ne'er a load's been overthrown."

Obama. The Optimist, Mediator, Non-defensive communicator overall. He has the Congress he has. He is getting done what he can. The Stealth progressive. ........................................................

MitchMouse, the Dormouse, peeps out when convenient, irregularly, runs out the clock, ducks away again, over and over. Default dangers? Unimportant. Illustrators take note: MitchMouse --The epitome of pursed-lip, frightened-eyed Intransigence, can never be out there alone. ................................................................. 5. Little Betty Pringle

Little Betty Pringle she had a pig. It was not very little and not very big. When he was alive he lived in clover. But now he's dead, and that's all over. Johnny Pringle he sat down and cry'd, Betty Pringle she lay down and dy'd. Johnny Pringle he, Betty Pringle she, and Piggie Wiggie.

The death of environmental protection. John as the Hatter Speaker - powerless even to act in his own interest. All demise around him. ..................................................................... 6. The Cock's On The Woodpile

"The cock's on the wood pile a-blowing on his horn, The bull's in the barn a-threshing of corn, The maids in the meadow are making of hay, The ducks in the river are swimming away."

Hatter John blowing, but the jobs of bull and maids are outsourced and now in China. Tea ducks duck responsibility. ................................................................... 7. Hickety Pickety

Sukey, take it off again, Sukey, take it off again, Sukey, take it off again, They're all gone away."

Unhappy Harry, the White Rabbit, held his office door open for any, any Republican to enter and discuss mutually satisfactory terms to avert default. Nobody came to negotiate. Nobody. Law of propaganda: Never debate, never cite facts, repeat. ................................................................ 10. Little Girl, Little Girl, Where have you been?

"Little girl, little girl, where have you been?"

"Gathering roses to give to the Queen."

"Little girl, little girl, what gave she you?"

"She gave me a diamond as big as my shoe."

Tea party girls gathering roses for the Koch brothers. Nice rewards. ..................................................................... 11. What's the News of the Day?

"What's the news of the day, Good neighbor, I pray? They say the balloon is gone up to the moon."

"A cat came fiddling out of a barn, With a pair of bagpipes under her arm; She could sing nothing but "Fiddle cum fee, The mouse has married the bumble bee." Pipe, cat, dance, mouse; We'll have a wedding at our good house."

Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes, sir; yes, sir; Three bags full. One for my master, One for my dame; But none for the little boy Who cries in the lane.

The attack on who needs "entitlements" .......................................................................................... 15. Barber, Barber, Shave a Pig Barber, barber, shave a pig, How many hairs will make a wig? 'Four and twenty, that's enough,' give the poor barber a pinch of snuff." Union busting. That's enough. Barber is a loser. A shave and a wig, both for a pinch of snuff? Go home, loser. .................................................................................. 16. Smiling Girls, Rosy Boys

Only the rosy need apply for toys. ...................................................................... 17. A Dog and a Cat Went Out

A dog and a cat went out together To see some friends just out of town, Said the cat to the dog, "What d'ye think of the weather?" "I think, ma'am, the rain will come down; But don't be alarmed, for I've an umbrella That will shelter us both," said this amiable fellow.

Washington to dream of. A red dog and a blue cat out together, and the red dog shares. ...................................................................................... 18. A Crooked Man

There was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile, And he found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile; He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together in a little crooked little house.

The crooked get elected. ........................................................................ 19. Pussy Sits By The Fire

Pussy sits beside the fire. How did she come there? In walks a little dog, Says -- "Pussy, are you there? How do you do, Mistress Pussy? Mistress Pussy, how do you do?" "I think you kindly, little dog, I fare as well as you."

Sheer fantasy. Where is the equal rights amendment to help her fare as well as he? ...................................................................................... 20. Three Sisters In a Hall

There were three sisters in a hall, There came a Knight amongst them all; Good morrow, aunt, to the one; Good morrow, aunt, to the other, Good morrow, gentlewoman, to the third. If you were my aunt, As the other two be, I would say good morrow, The aunts, all three.

Three sisters, two are aunts, and one is a gentlewoman, says the knight. If she were also an aunt, as she is not, he would say good morrow. What is she to him? And he already said Good morrow to her. What is this all about? Have to find out. Do "Three Sisters" refer to the garden threesome, corn, squash and beans? See http://davesgarden.com/guides/terms/go/1366/ Or the Bronte sisters? But they come later, as does Chekhov. Moving on .... .......................................... 21. Little Bird

"Once I saw a little bird Come hop, hop, hop; So I cried, little bird, will you stop, stop, stop? And was going to the window To say How do you do? But he shook his little tail, And far away he flew."

"Blow, wind, blow! and go, mill, go! That the miller may grind his corn; That the baker may take it, And into rolls make it, and bring us some hot in the morn."

Incentives needed to make the banks lend, the companies hire here. We just want to be ok. See and hear Ingrid Michaelson at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt955Fj7_JI ........................................................ 23. Hickory, Dickory, Sacara Down

"Hickory, dickory, sacara down! How many miles to Richmond town? Turn to the left and turn to the right, and you may get there by Saturday night."

How far and how to resolution of the debt ceiling crisis. As made up as sacara down, no meaning found that makes sense yet. Some Spanish verb derivations, perhaps the name of a "down" or green, meadow, heath. ..................................................... And on. Our main point is that politics can be lightened and enlightened by a look at old rhymes; and especially fine old illustrations. Where to find these online? For lost lyrics and their meanings, try http://www.rhymes.org.uk/lost-lyrics-old-nursery-rhymes.htm

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Old, Aesop version: scroll down to Shepherd's boy and the Wolf at ://classics.mit.edu/Aesop/fab.1.1.html/

I. There was a shepherd boy near a village, with a flock of sheep. Bored, he cried out loudly, "Wolf! Wolf!" The villagers came running, and when they saw there was no Wolf, the boy just laughed at them. And sat back to watch the sheep.

Soon, though, a real wolf came. "Help!" cried the shepherd boy. "Wolf! Wolf!" But the villagers ignored him. And the Wolf, without fear, ate his fill.

II. New. News today. Libya needs help, populations in danger; US is hamstrung from having invaded enough, and on false pretenses, in Irag etc., Middle east.

There was a Nation in the world, that could reach other countries. Bored, the Nation cried out loudly, "WMD! WMD! Invade!" The Nation's people and others in the world came running, and when they saw there were no WMD, no reason to invade, the Nation just laughed at them. And sat back to do whatever.

Soon, though a real reason to invade came. "Help! Cried the Nation. "Invade! Invade! Innocents are being slaughtered!"

But the world ignored the Nation. And the slaughterer of innocents, without fear, killed his fill.

Moral (several versions): A liar, individual or nation, will not be believed, even when speaking truth. Or, calling a false alarm will mean no-one comes when there is a real alarm.